118 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



numerous family, with the exception of about a dozen 

 females, who survive to form fresh colonies in the ensuing 

 spring. As the nest is now a desolate ruin, we will take the " 

 liberty of examining it without fearing the stings of its 

 waspish inhabitants. A full-sized nest is nearly a foot in 

 diameter, of a globular form ; the outer covering is con- 

 structed of many layers of a thin paper-like substance made 

 of moistened wood. There are several layers of cells, each 

 about two-thirds of an inch in depth, and supported by 

 numerous strong pillars ; a nest consists of about 16,000 

 cells, differing in size according to the three orders which 

 compose the family. These little insects feed on sweets of 

 various kinds, as well as on flesh and insects, and frequently 

 plunder hives to feed on the honey of its industrious inha- 

 bitants ; one Wasp is said to be a match for three Bees, and 

 they will boldly encounter a whole swarm to obtain their 

 favourite food. 



The solitary species of Wasp, forming the genus Odynerus, 

 are much smaller than the common Wasp, which they re- 

 semble in colour ; the females construct their nests in sand- 

 banks, the crevices of walls, or in decayed wood. These 

 holes are several inches in depth, and of a cylindrical form, 

 the entrance being defended, in some species, by a curved 



